Packaging for two different blisters

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a packaging, comprising a hollow body ( 5 ) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and a blister carrier ( 6 ) slidably arranged therein for accommodating a blister ( 20 ). The blister carrier ( 6 ) is designed in such a way and blisters are or can be fastened to the blister carrier ( 6 ) in such a way that the blister carrier ( 6 ) can accommodate at least two different blisters ( 20 ), which differ in regard to the quantity and/or arrangement of the pockets. The blister carrier ( 6 ) has a carrier section ( 14 ) that is frame-shaped.

The invention relates to a packaging according to the preamble of claim1. The packaging is principally composed of a hollow body and of ablister carrier that is arranged to slide in the hollow body so as to beable to be pulled out of the packaging. The slide-open packaging issuitable particularly as a childproof package, ensuring that it can beopened only when force is applied in a specific manner by the user.Children should not be able to open the packaging, or they should not beable to easily open it.

A comparable packaging of the type in question has been disclosed in WO2006/068602 A1, for example. The packaging disclosed in the latter has ahollow body which extends along a longitudinal axis and in which ablister carrier or another insert is arranged so as to be able to slideto a limited extent. The childproof feature (or blocked position) can becanceled by pressing a button-like tab, which is arranged on a top faceof the hollow body and is predefined by a circular cutting line. In theblister carrier, portions are arranged between which a blister can ineach case be received in a sandwich arrangement. For this purpose, theportion assigned to the pockets of the blister has correspondingcutouts; on the opposite side, push-through areas for the packagedmaterial are blocked by push-through segments that are predefined bymeans of perforation lines. It has been found in practice that thepackaging is relatively expensive and has only a limited range of use.In particular, a separate punching and perforating tool for the cutoutsand push-through areas is needed for each blister type.

The object is therefore to avoid the disadvantages of what has beendisclosed and, in particular, to create a packaging that is suitable forpackaging blisters and that can be used widely and in a variety of ways.Moreover, the packaging is to be distinguished by being easy andinexpensive to produce.

These objects are achieved by a packaging having the features of claim1. By virtue of the fact that the blister carrier is designed in such away, and blisters are fastened or can be fastened to the blister carrierin such a way, that the blister carrier can receive at least twodifferent blisters, which differ in terms of the number and/orarrangement or size of the pockets, the field of use of the packagingcan be increased or expanded considerably. Depending on the intendeduse, the user can equip the same type of packaging with differentblisters which, however, preferably have the same outer contour. Theuser therefore simply has to change the blister when refilling thepackaging. It is no longer necessary to adapt the packaging to asuitable blister. Special anchoring means, for example tonguesintegrally formed on the blister, are not needed. The term “blister” isunderstood hereinbelow as a packaging unit which contains a base sheet,provided with at least one pocket for receiving material, and a flat,pressure-sensitive cover foil that covers the pockets. To remove thepackaged material, the latter is pushed through the cover foil, which ismade of aluminum for example. Simple blisters are known, for example, as“blister strips”. Such blisters have been known and in common use for along time. The packaging is particularly suitable for commerciallyavailable blisters. For certain products, the blisters can have the sameexternal dimensions (length x width), although the number of pockets canvary, depending on the intended use, for holding different amounts ofpackaged material. For such blisters, the same blank can now thereforebe used for the blister carrier.

The hollow body extending along a longitudinal axis can have asleeve-shaped or tubular structure, the cross-sectional shape of thehollow body being largely immaterial. For example, the sleeve could havea triangular or polygonal cross-sectional shape. However, it can beadvantageous if the hollow body has a bottom, side walls each laterallyadjoining the bottom, and a top lying opposite the bottom, wherein thebottom, the side walls and the top form a sleeve with an approximatelyrectangular cross section. Such a hollow body in the shape of aparallelepiped is relatively easy to produce.

For easy handling, it can be advantageous if the blister carrier has abase portion and a holding part. On the holding part, the blister can befixed or fixable in an area in which no push-through areas or pocketsare present. In this way, although the blister can be held firmly in thepackaging, the holder does not cover the foil of the blister in the areaof the pockets. The product can therefore be pushed out independently ofthe number, arrangement and shape of the pockets. The holding part canbe hinged on the base portion in such a way that, after the blistercarrier has been pulled out, the holding part and if appropriate theblister can fold open about the longitudinal axis to provide a removalposition. In the removal position, the base portion can form thecontinuation of the bottom of the hollow body.

It can also be advantageous if an axially extending first hinge fold isarranged between base portion and holding part and, in a startingposition (i.e. the position in which the blister carrier is insertedfully in the hollow body), preferably lies approximately flat on one ofthe side walls.

The first hinge fold can be adjoined by a second hinge fold which, inthe starting position, can preferably lie approximately flat on the top.The two hinge folds can be delimited from each other by a fold line.

The blister carrier can have a gluing portion or sealing portion towhich an edge of the blister is fixed or can be fixed (e.g. isadhesively bonded or can be adhesively bonded). This gluing portion can,for example, adjoin the second hinge fold and can be delimited from thelatter by a fold line. A gluing surface or sealing surface can bearranged in the overlap area between gluing portion and blister.Adhesives, for example hot-melt adhesives, are suitable in particularfor this type of fastening. With the aid of such a gluing portion, theblisters can be fastened particularly easily to the blister carrier.However, the fastening technology known to a person skilled in the artunder the term “sealing” (e.g. heat-sealing, ultrasound sealing) is alsopossible. The blister and/or the blister carrier can be provided forthis purpose with a sealing layer, which can be activated when exposedto heat or ultrasound oscillations, such that welding or surfaceadhesion takes place.

In an alternative embodiment, the blister carrier can have a carrierportion that is frame-shaped. A carrier portion of this kind can have aframe recess, which is adapted to the pockets of the blister in such away that all of the pockets can be inserted in this recess or betweenthe frame of the carrier portion.

It is conceivable in theory for a blister to be fastened, in particularadhesively bonded, to a single frame-shaped carrier portion. However, itcould also be advantageous if the blister carrier has two carrierportions, wherein the blister is or can be inserted in a sandwicharrangement between the carrier portions. At least one of the carrierportions, preferably each carrier portion, can be frame-shaped.

The blister carrier can contain at least two separable segments,preferably a multiplicity of separable segments. The segments arearranged in groups and are delimited from one another by perforationlines. One of these segments, or in some cases several of thesesegments, can overlap a push-through area. The last-mentioned segmentsthus form blocking segments which are separable from the blister portionand which each cover a push-through area for packaged material of theblister. By way of such a push-through area in the cover foil, it ispossible for packaged material, such as tablets, capsules or pills, tobe removed from the blister by pressing in the pocket.

By virtue of the multiplicity of segments separable from one another,but interconnected via perforation lines, blisters with different pocketarrangements can be easily packaged, and at the same time removal canalways be ensured. For example, if a six-pocket blister is replaced by atwenty-pocket blister, the same packaging can still be used. Thisgrouped arrangement of segments, which are each delimited from oneanother only by perforation lines, could also be advantageous forconventional blister packages. The multiplicity of relatively smallpush-through segments bordering one another ensures that, regardless ofthe number, size and/or arrangement of the pockets, it is possible fortablets or other packaged material to be easily removed from the packageby applying pressure.

It can be advantageous if the separable segments form a grid. It can beparticularly advantageous if the perforation lines assigned to theseparable segments form a honeycomb structure on the blister portion. Inthe case of a honeycomb structure, the individual segments can have theshape of a hexagon. By virtue of the honeycomb structure, packagedmaterial can, relatively speaking, be pressed particularly easily out ofthe blister and through the blister portion. The honeycomb structure canbe made up of regular hexagons. The radius of the outer circle of anindividual hexagonal segment can be between 5 and 20 mm, for example. Ofcourse, other segment sizes are possible depending on the size of thepackaged material.

It can be particularly advantageous if the size of the separablesegments is adapted to the packaged material intended to be received inthe pockets. The radius of the inscribed circle of a hexagonal segmentcan, for example, correspond approximately to the radius of adisk-shaped tablet.

The arrangement according to the invention is particularly suitable forpackagings that are child-proof. To make the packaging childproof,safety means can be provided which ensure that the blister carriercannot be pulled out of the sleeve of the hollow body from a blockedstarting position, and the starting position (or blocked position) canbe released only when force is applied to the packaging in a specificway.

It can also be advantageous if, in order to limit the sliding movementwhen withdrawing the blister carrier from the hollow body, blockingmeans in operative connection with one another are arranged on theblister carrier and on the sleeve. The blocking means assigned to theblister carrier can have a blocking tongue.

Safety means of this kind for childproofing, and the aforementionedblocking means for preventing the blister carrier from being pulledcompletely out of the hollow body, have been disclosed in WO 2006/068602A1, for example. However, other safety means and blocking means could ofcourse also be used.

In order to close a front opening, the blister carrier can have a wallportion on which is hinged a tongue portion. In order to close thepackaging, the tongue portion can be placed on the second hinge fold, ifappropriate on the holding part, and also if appropriate on the blister.The tongue portion can be designed in at least two layers.

A further aspect of the invention concerns a blank made of cardboard orof cardboard laminate for a blister carrier, in particular for thepackaging described above. For the aforementioned sealing, the cardboardor the cardboard laminate can be provided at least in some areas with asealing layer. The sleeve and the blister carrier can each be composedof a single blank of cardboard or cardboard laminate.

Further individual features and advantages of the invention will becomeclear from the following description of the illustrative embodiments andfrom the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging according to theinvention in a starting position,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the packaging from FIG. 1, but with ablister carrier pulled out,

FIG. 3 shows a packaging with an alternative blister carrier,

FIG. 4 shows a blank for the blister carrier according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 shows a blank for an alternative blister carrier,

FIG. 6 shows another blank for a blister carrier,

FIG. 7 shows a detail of a blank for the blister carrier of thepackaging from FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 shows an alternative variant of the blank from FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 shows a detail of a blank for a blister carrier according toanother illustrative embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference number 1 designates a packaging in the shape of aparallelepiped. The packaging is composed of a hollow body, designatedby reference number 5, and of a blister carrier 6 pushed into the hollowbody. The hollow body 5 extends along a longitudinal axis A and, as canbe seen, has a rectangular cross section. The hollow body 5 has abottom, side walls 4 each laterally adjoining the bottom, and a top 3lying opposite the bottom. The hollow body 5 is open in the area of afront end, and this opening is closed by a wall portion 17 which isassigned to the blister carrier and which thus forms a side of theparallelepiped.

The hollow body 5 and the blister carrier 6 are each preferably producedfrom a single blank of cardboard or of cardboard laminate. The blistercarrier 6 is arranged in the hollow body 5 so as to be able to slidetherein to a limited extent in the direction of the longitudinal axis A.The corresponding direction of sliding is indicated by the arrow A.Before the blister carrier in the pushed-in position in FIG. 1 can bepulled out from this starting position, the user first has to depress abutton 19 in direction F in order to release a blocked position.Regarding the structure and mode of action of a child safety feature ofthis kind, reference is made for example to WO 2006/068602 A1 (but seealso FIGS. 4-6 below).

FIG. 2 shows an open packaging 1 in which the blister carrier has beenpulled out of the hollow body 3. The blister carrier 6 has a baseportion 8 and, connected to the latter, a planar holding part 9 on whichthe blister, designated by 20, is fixed or can be fixed. The respectivepush-through areas of the blister 20 that are assigned to the pocketsare indicated by dotted lines. The base portion 8 lies flat on thebottom 2 of the hollow body in the starting position and can slide alongthe bottom when being pulled out. In the position shown in FIG. 2, thebase portion forms a continuation of the bottom 2. To ensure that theblister carrier 6 cannot be pulled completely out of the hollow body 5,blocking means (not shown here) are provided. In the present case, forexample, blocking means of the kind described in WO 2006/068602 A1 areused.

The holding part 9 is hinged on the base portion 8 via a first hingefold 11 and a second hinge fold 12. In the starting position, theaxially extending hinge fold 11 lies approximately flat on one of theside walls 4. In the starting position, the second hinge fold 12 liesapproximately flat on the top 12. In the view according to FIG. 2, theblister carrier is partially folded open. The pivoting-open movement isindicated by an arrow s. To close the packaging, the blister carrier 6has to be pushed back into the hollow body 5 in the direction −A. Theblister carrier 6 has a carrier portion that is frame-shaped, as aresult of which the push-through areas lie free. For the frame design,it does not matter how many pockets a blister has or how exactly thesepockets are arranged. Instead of the blister indicated in FIG. 2 witheight pockets, blisters of the same size with a different number ofpockets could also be used. The frame must be dimensioned in such a waythat the push-through areas assigned to the pockets or to the packagedmaterial are not covered by the frame.

FIG. 3 shows a packaging 1 with an alternative blister carrier 6. Theblister carrier has a blister portion 16, and a blister (not shown here)is or can be fastened to the rear face thereof preferably with the aidof adhesive. The blister carrier 6 contains a multiplicity of separablesegments 10, which are delimited from one another only by perforationlines 15. By means of the multiplicity of interconnected segments 10delimited from one another in each case by a predetermined tear line(e.g. perforation line), it is ensured that, regardless of the number,size and type of arrangement of the pockets, a packaged material fromthe blister can be guided through the blister portion and thus removed.The perforation lines 15 form a grid with rectangular segments 10 on theblister portion 16. However, it would of course also be conceivable intheory to combine the blister portion 16 with a frame-shaped carrierportion (cf. FIG. 2) in order to hold the blister in a sandwicharrangement therein.

FIG. 4 shows a blank 22 for a blister carrier similar to the one shownin FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, and in the subsequent views of blanks, fold linesare indicated by dot-and-dash lines. These fold lines can be grooved ornotched lines. However, in contrast to the illustrative embodimentaccording to FIG. 3, the separable segments 10 and the perforation lines15 on the blister portion 16 form a honeycomb structure. Themultiplicity of relatively small, hexagonal push-through segments 10bordering one another ensures that, regardless of the number, sizeand/or arrangement of the pockets, it is possible for tablets or otherpackaged material to be easily removed from the package by applyingpressure. The webs (or segments) 10 of identical configuration and lyingadjacent to one another are interconnected in each case via hexagonedges that predefine perforation lines. The radius of the outer circleof an individual hexagonal segment can be approximately 10 mm, forexample, which ensures particularly good handling for most tablet sizesin the pharmaceutical industry. Other sizes of segments may also proveadvantageous depending on the size of the packaged material.

It will also be seen from FIG. 4 that the bottom 8 is adjoined at oneend by a wall portion 17, which is in turn adjoined by a tongue portion18 composed of two layers. Reference number 23 designates a safety flapfor making the packaging childproof. Reference number designates ablocking tongue which, in order to prevent complete withdrawal of theblister carrier from the hollow body, cooperates with a wall tongueassigned to the hollow body.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, a blister could also be applied directly tothe base portion 8. In this case, separable segments 10 in a honeycombarrangement and predefined by perforation lines 15 would have to beprovided in the base portion.

FIG. 6 shows a further variant of a blister carrier, in which theblister carrier could also be folded open to the front. The blistercarrier 16 is hinged on the front end of the base portion (instead of atthe side as in FIG. 4).

FIG. 7 shows a blank 22 for the blister carrier from FIG. 2. Except fora different design of the holding part 9, the blister carrier isdesigned in the same way as the blank in FIG. 4. The blister carrier 6has a frame-shaped carrier portion 14.

FIG. 8 shows a variant of a carrier part 9 of frame-shapedconfiguration, in which two frame-shaped carrier portions 14 and 14′ areprovided. The carrier portions 14, 14′ are delimited from each other bya fold line and can be folded together and thus receive a blister in asandwich arrangement.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative blank 22 for a blister carrier. The blistercarrier 6 has a gluing portion 13, to which the blister 20 is adhesivelybonded at the edge. The blister 20 is to be positioned in such a waythat the push-through areas (not shown here) assigned to the pockets orto the packaged material are not covered by the blister carrier. In theoverlap area between blister 20 and gluing portion 13, a gluing surfaceis indicated by hatching. Of course, it would also be possible insteadto provide a sealing surface onto which the blister is sealed.

1. A packaging (1) with a hollow body (5) extending along a longitudinalaxis (A), and with a blister carrier (6) which is arranged in the hollowbody (5) so as to be able to slide therein, preferably to a limitedextent, in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A) and which receivesat least one blister (20), characterized in that the blister carrier (6)is designed in such a way, and the blister (20) is fastened or can befastened to the blister carrier (6) in such a way, that the blistercarrier (6) can receive at least two different blisters (20), whichdiffer in terms of the number, size and/or arrangement of their pockets.2. The packaging as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hollowbody (5) has a bottom (2), side walls (4) each laterally adjoining thebottom, and a top (3) lying opposite the bottom (2), wherein the bottom(2), the side walls (4) and the top (3) form a sleeve with a preferablyapproximately rectangular cross section.
 3. The packaging as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the blister carrier (6) has a baseportion (8), and a holding part (9) to which the blister (20) is fixedor can be fixed via an area having no pockets, wherein the holding part(9) is preferably hinged on the base portion (8) in such a way that,after the blister carrier has been pulled out, the holding part (9) andif appropriate the blister (20) can fold open about the longitudinalaxis (A) to provide a removal position.
 4. The packaging as claimed inclaim 3, characterized in that an axially extending first hinge fold(11) is arranged between base portion (8) and holding part (9) and, in astarting position, preferably lies approximately flat on one of the sidewalls (4).
 5. The packaging as claimed in claim 4, characterized in thatthe first hinge fold (11) is adjoined by a second hinge fold (12) which,in the starting position, preferably lies approximately flat on the top(12).
 6. The packaging as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that theblister carrier (6) has a gluing portion or sealing portion (13) towhich an edge of the blister (20) is fixed or can be fixed in such a waythat the push-through areas are not covered by the blister carrier. 7.The packaging as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the blistercarrier (6) has a carrier portion (14) that is frame-shaped, such thatthe push-through areas are not covered.
 8. The packaging as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the blister carrier (6) has two carrierportions (14, 14′), wherein a blister is inserted or can be inserted ina sandwich arrangement between the carrier portions (14, 14′), whereinat least one of the carrier portions (14), preferably each carrierportion (14, 14′), is frame-shaped.
 9. The packaging as claimed in claim1, characterized in that the blister carrier (6) contains at least twoseparable segments (10), preferably a multiplicity of separable segments(10), wherein the segments (10) are arranged at least in groups and aredelimited from one another by perforation lines (15).
 10. The packagingas claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the separable segments (10)form a grid.
 11. The packaging as claimed in claim 8, characterized inthat the perforation lines (15) assigned to the separable segments (10)form a honeycomb structure on the blister portion (16).
 12. Thepackaging as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, in order toclose a front opening, the blister carrier (6) has a wall portion (17),on which a tongue portion (18) is hinged that can be placed on thesecond hinge fold (12), if appropriate on the holding part (9), and alsoif appropriate on the blister (20).
 13. The packaging as claimed inclaim 12, characterized in that the tongue portion (18) is designed inat least two layers.
 14. A blank for a blister carrier (16), inparticular of a packaging (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat the blister carrier (6) is designed in such a way, and blisters arefastened or can be fastened to the blister carrier (6) in such a way,that the blister carrier (6) can receive at least two different blisters(20), which differ in terms of the number and/or arrangement of thepockets.